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  1. Hardware
  2. Handhelds
  3. Steam Deck

Valve answers all your burning Steam Deck questions in new FAQ

News
By Jordan Gerblick
Published 23 September 2021

Can it boot from microSD? Can it be used as a controller? Yes and yes

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Steam Deck hands-on
(Image credit: Future)
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Valve has published a new FAQ page for the Steam Deck, answering a bunch of the internet's most burning questions about the upcoming portable gaming PC.

Valve says it picked out 20 of the most popular questions about Steam Deck received over the past few months from Reddit, Discord, Twitter, and CEO Gabe Newell's email inbox. Though we had plenty to say in our hands-on Steam Deck preview, there are still a lot of unknowns about the console, and now we have a bunch of fresh answers on key features straight from Valve.

Some of the new information we had already expected, like Steam Deck's ability to run non-Steam games via Proton, but some of what's answered in the FAQ page is genuinely new and exciting. For one, Valve today confirmed that you'll be able to use the Steam Deck as a PC controller via Remote Play, which should please folks eager for a game pad with more features like touchpads, touch-sensitive control sticks, and extra back buttons.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

Valve also says Steam Deck will support multi-boot, allowing you to have multiple operating systems installed and to choose which one to boot into whenever you power on the device. Better yet, the device will be able to boot from microSD cards, which means you could technically turn your Steam Deck into a part-time portable retro games console without taking up any space on the actual hardware.

Check out the rest of Valve's Steam Deck FAQ for more detailed info on the machine's specs and features, as well as potential retail availability.

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For what to play right now, don't miss our extensive guide to the best PC games available in 2021.

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Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
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Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
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Gaming Controllers The Steam Controller might be sold out, but official Valve 3D files mean I could make my own using Steam Deck parts
 
 
Hand holding MSI Claw A1M handheld with Windows 11 on screen.
Handhelds SteamOS now plays nice with Intel handhelds, and it could help MSI's OG portable become a Steam Deck
 
 
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Hardware Valve finally just shared a make-your-own Steam Machine e-ink faceplate kit
 
 
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Hardware Valve's Steam Machine reservation page code points towards four package flavors
 
 
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Gaming Controllers You can now use the Steam Controller with your PS5, Xbox, and Switch thanks to an open-source puck
 
 
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Hardware I can't afford a Steam Machine, but Valve has already graced your PC with living room rig abilites
 
 
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Retro "I was told you couldn't do 3D on the Playdate, so I did it" - gamedev creates a 3D renderer for Panic's tiny monochrome handheld
 
 
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Handhelds Steam Deck sales are seemingly down an estimated 82% - Bear with me while I put on my surprised face
 
 
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Handhelds Jokes aside, buying the $4,299 Ayaneo Next 2 would mean selling my car
 
 
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Handhelds That Lenovo Cloud handheld lands this August, and a 120Hz display and TMR thumbsticks won't get me into streaming
 
 
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Retro Ayaneo unveils its Konkr Pocket Advance, and it's the GBA handheld remake I was holding out for
 
 
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Games PlayStation ditching discs is "a bridge across the bad years" of high hardware costs, analyst says
 
 
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Simulation Games Stardew Valley "3DVR" mod looks like a whole different game and is "fully playable"
 
 
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Games Xbox just had its worst quarter in years
 
 
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Survival Games Palworld ability lets you instantly revive your Pals without waiting around for 10 minutes
 
 
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